Universal Display (NASDAQ:OLED) Misses Q4 Sales Targets

OLED provider Universal Display (NASDAQ:OLED) missed analysts' expectations in Q4 FY2023, with revenue down 6.3% year on year to $158.3 million. The company's full-year revenue guidance of $650 million at the midpoint also came in 2.8% below analysts' estimates. It made a GAAP profit of $1.29 per share, down from its profit of $1.36 per share in the same quarter last year.

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Universal Display (OLED) Q4 FY2023 Highlights:

• Revenue: $158.3 million vs analyst estimates of $161 million (1.7% miss)
• EPS: $1.29 vs analyst estimates of $1.15 (12.5% beat)
• Management's revenue guidance for the upcoming financial year 2024 is $650 million at the midpoint, missing analyst estimates by 2.8% and implying 12.8% growth (vs -6.1% in FY2023)
• Free Cash Flow of $29.49 million, down 16.6% from the previous quarter
• Inventory Days Outstanding: 444, down from 447 in the previous quarter
• Gross Margin (GAAP): 77.2%, down from 80.7% in the same quarter last year
• Market Capitalization: $8.70 billion

“In 2023, we achieved key milestones, strengthened our capabilities and infrastructure, and positioned the Company for growth in the years ahead,” said Brian Millard, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Universal Display Corporation.

Serving major consumer electronics manufacturers, Universal Display (NASDAQ:OLED) is a provider of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technologies used in display and lighting applications.

Analog SemiconductorsDemand for analog chips is generally linked to the overall level of economic growth, as analog chips serve as the building blocks of most electronic goods and equipment. Unlike digital chip designers, analog chip makers tend to produce the majority of their own chips, as analog chip production does not require expensive leading edge nodes. Less dependent on major secular growth drivers, analog product cycles are much longer, often 5-7 years.

Sales GrowthUniversal Display's revenue growth over the last three years has been mediocre, averaging 15.8% annually. But as you can see below, its revenue declined from $169 million in the same quarter last year to $158.3 million. Semiconductors are a cyclical industry, and long-term investors should be prepared for periods of high growth followed by periods of revenue contractions (which can sometimes offer opportune times to buy).

Universal Display had a difficult quarter as revenue dropped 6.3% year on year, missing analysts' estimates by 1.7%. This could mean that the current downcycle is deepening.

Product Demand & Outstanding InventoryDays Inventory Outstanding (DIO) is an important metric for chipmakers, as it reflects a business' capital intensity and the cyclical nature of semiconductor supply and demand. In a tight supply environment, inventories tend to be stable, allowing chipmakers to exert pricing power. Steadily increasing DIO can be a warning sign that demand is weak, and if inventories continue to rise, the company may have to downsize production.

This quarter, Universal Display's DIO came in at 444, which is 84 days above its five-year average. These numbers suggest that despite the recent decrease, the company's inventory levels are higher than what we've seen in the past.

Key Takeaways from Universal Display's Q4 Results Revenue missed this quarter, although operating income beat slightly. Full-year revenue guidance missed analysts' expectations, which is a major driver of why the stock is down. Overall, this was a mediocre quarter for Universal Display. The company is down 4.2% on the results and currently trades at $179.2 per share.